Settling in

Making a compost pile (an open one so far).

Playing with the rake.

Still playing with the rake.

We are here and getting settled. Aside from the four GIGANTIC spiders (one with a sac) we have found in the basement and the crazy things we keep finding around the house, all is well. We like the space and the yard. We have nice neighbors. The public transportation is convenient for us. All the roads around us are under construction (thanks to the federal stimulus package), but that means we'll have something to benefit us in the future. (If you want examples of weird things we didn't notice during the viewings in May, just let me know.)

The oldest is having a bit of a time adjusting. We have had nightly (or twice nightly) accidents for the past week and occasional ones during the day. It is bad enough that after the second accident last night, I had to put him to be naked--not a clean pair of underwear to be found. But this morning he said, "I love our house and our yard." He also loves the idea of swatting flies with a "wasp." He is in swimming lessons with another little boys his same age. Today, he put his face in the water to be a submarine. (WAHOO!)

The youngest is scared of Nursery, probably because there are so many children (and so many Senior-Nursery-aged children who are more aggressive) that he just doesn't feel safe. I did get to go to class for 10 minutes on Sunday, which is progress in a way. (The week before he screamed from under a stack of chairs until I got him and then was glued to my side in my classes--he wanted NOTHING to do with Nursery that week. He even screamed when he saw one of the Nursery workers in the hallway.)

My husband likes the school and likes the area. He's going golfing with the Elder's Quorum on Saturday morning, which should be a nice relaxing thing for him to do.

I'm going to work on getting a fall garden going . . . I just need to prepare the ground. Then this fall I'll plant berry bushes and fruit trees.

There is one big difference we are noticing. In Georgia, distance wasn't really that big of an issue (unless you were talking about something during rush hour). Here the distance of 10 or 15 minutes is sometimes overwhelming. We live "so far" from the church building (about 10 minutes) and since no other members live in our subdivision, we are sort of on our own. (At least that is what it seems like right now.)

We're hoping to find friends soon. I'm ready to start inviting people over for dinner and/or games. The boys and I miss our friends.

"Goodbye"

Primary children to the oldest: "Goodbye, goodbye. Goodbye, goodbye. We're sad to see you go. Goodbye. Goodbye, goodbye. Goodbye, goodbye. We're glad you came our way. To share with us this Primary day and be our friend in a very special way. Goodbye, goodbye. Goodbye, goodbye. We're sad to see you go."

The oldest: "You're singing the wrong words."

A Bad Day

Though I don't profess to try and make this blog full of the wonderful things in our lives, and though I don't intend to make our lives sound pretty ideal, I realize that the things I want to share are the great wonderful things that are happening. Which makes me wonder why I'm blogging about this. Maybe I'm hoping for some catharsis. Maybe I'm talking to some adult out there while my husband is off with the youth in Nauvoo. Maybe I'm trying to prove that my life is not perfect. Maybe I'm not quite done crying yet.

Here is the day. The morning started fine, so I won't say anything about that. But after the youngest was awaken from his early nap by his older brother while I was on the phone with the insurance agent trying to figure out why the quotes were so different from the two companies (grr!), I decided to call in the troops: we took an errand to Hollywood video and rented Cars. I then put the movie on and tried to keep working on the insurance mess.

When I thought I had figured some of it out and was only waiting for a phone call back, I thought I would start packing the everyday dishes. I packed one box with no problems and had just finished packing the second when I rushed to wash the youngest's hands and realized that my engagement ring was no longer on my finger.

When was the last time I remember seeing it? The video store.

How many times had I washed newsprint from my hands since then? Three or four?

Which sink? I have no clue.

So I took the u-tube out of both sinks and pulled the stopper out (thanks, Dadda, for explaining to a slightly hysterical daughter how to get the stopper unstopped!). One sink went fairly quickly--until the boys realized what I was doing and started "helping." The stopper on the other was a little stuck and I couldn't find the right wrench to help loosen it. I got frustrated and more frustrated, especially as the youngest insisted on helping me. Finally it came off and there was no ring.

So I unpacked the last box--a box full of newsprint, shredded paper, and plates. I didn't see anything.

I'd already prayed myself and pulled the oldest in to pray with me (and he voluntarily said the sweetest prayer). The oldest also started helping me look. He checked the fridge and his toy box. He decided that tomorrow we can get me a new red ring.

Then my husband called about the insurance and I started crying again as I told him that I had lost the ring and I felt really badly about it.

I still feel badly. I feel badly that my highly emotional state ended up making the evening pretty miserable for me and the boys. I feel badly that I can't find this beautiful, uninsured ring. I feel badly that I yelled at the boys when I'm working hard on being patient.

All in all, it was not the best of days.

UPDATE 7/12

Ring found in the bottom of one of the boxes. It was hiding between the two fold-over pieces of cardboard and the tape (three layers in all). Let's just say that it is in a safe place until all this moving is over.

Pushing/Wrestling

The boys (all three of them) love to show how strong they are.

(As we're waiting for it to load, the boys are here signing and saying, "more," "Papa," and "that is a good push," and laughing. I wish I could tape them talking while we wait.)

"Reading"

The oldest has started "reading." He memorizes the story and tells it back to us. This week he would "read" the scripture he was going to share with Primary like this: "Prepare every needful thing." (He was reading Doctrine and Covenants 88:119.)

Here he is "reading" a story from Babybug magazine.

D was a duck
with spots on its back
that lived in the water
and always said, 'quack.'

D. Dear little duck.

(Do you notice that he is not wearing dinosaur pjs?
The killer whale pjs have moved into the acceptable pile, but none of the others.)

Hot Spot Speakings

In Family Home Evening, each Monday night, we have a "hot spot" where someone (usually two little boys) are called to the hot spot and everyone else tells them why they are special. Usually, the oldest loves everyone because they share their toys. Tonight was different. To his younger brother, he said, "I love you because Bambi is an awful good movie."

Introductions

Firefly Watching II by Robin Street-Morris

I don't remember seeing this growing up in Utah, and I haven't seen it every summer, but this summer seems to be the summer of the firefly or lightning bug. Maybe it is because we are finally leaving the drought that seems to have held us down for the past few years; maybe it is because we are all (hopefully) trying to be a little more environmentally friendly.

About three weeks ago, I was heading off to an evening meeting when I saw a solitary firefly outside our front door. I tried waking my sleeping husband, but it was to no avail. The firefly flitted around the pine straw laden dirt in front of the apartment complex for a few minutes, then I had to leave. I wished that my boys were awake so that I could have shown them what I've heard is becoming a rare sight.

Tonight, after a luau in a member of our Church's meadow-like backyard (complete with dancers and the roasted pig's head), the boys and I were making our way to the car. We were leaving a little early because my boys are early sleepers (and they were already 2 hours overdue for bedtime). I noticed that there were many little green lights flashing around the edges of the meadow, and when we got to the car, there were a few right behind it. I called the oldest over and told him to watch the bug because the bug had a flashlight as part of his bum (how else do you explain it to a three-year-old). We watched and the firefly flashed a few times for us.

I am happy that I could show my son this, even though he probably won't remember it tomorrow. Maybe they'll have fireflies in the field behind our new house. (I can always hope.)